Supporting means for disappearing beds.



E. G. PITGHER.

SUPPORTING MEANS FOR DISAPPEARING BEDS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.11,1914.

1,132,616., Pat ented Mar.23,1915.

3 SHEET$SHEET 2.

A TTOR/VEY E. G. PITCHER.

SUPPORTING MEANS FOR DISAPPEARING BEDS.

APPLICATION TILED APR.11,1914.

1,182,616, Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES.

A TTORNE Y m'rnn TATE PATENT @FFICE.

ELMER C. YITCHER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SUPPORTING MEANS FOR DISAPPEARING BEDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

Application filed April 11, 1914. Serial No. 831,345.

into and out of an inclosure, through an' opening narrower than the width of the object supported by the truck; to provide a support for folding-beds, whereby said bed may be passed through an opening narrower than the width of the bed; to provide a support for folding beds, adapted to swing about a'center such as a door post, without mechanical or combinative attachment with or to the door post contiguous structure; to provide a support for beds; whereby they may be swung into and out of closets clear of the door, and have a movement tangental to the arc of the swing movement, to leave a passage through the door opening at all times.

In the art of disappearing beds, considerable difficulty is experienced in hanging this class of beds, on vertical axes or pivots attached to the side of the door frame, through which said beds are to be swung. In modern Class A buildings constructed of steel, reinforced concrete, with tile partitions, and having tile or plaster finish, no suitable place or manner of attachment can be readily accomplished; requiring that the architecture may be subordinated to the bed.

In the present invention, the only requirement is suflicient depth to the inclosure, to permit the passage of the upstanding bed, in its evolutions about the edge of the openings. This truck permits the application of disappearing beds, wherever space will permit, irrespective of the form or doors used, whether sliding, hinged, or absent entirely.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses.

I shall outline in full that form of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. The novelty of the invention will be included in the claims succeeding said description. From this it will be apparent that I do not restrict myself to the showing made by said drawings and description, as I may adopt many variations within the scope of my invention as expressed in said claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front eleration of a supportin accordance with this invention, and having a folding bed mounted thereon in a raised position, adapted to pass through the opening shown in the back ground. Fig. 2, is

a plan view from above of the supporting truck, disclosed through a broken out section of the platform. Fig. 3, is a plan view from above of a pivoted truck with a fixed center of revolution. Fig. 4, is a similar view of a modification of the truck adapted to be used, where space is limited, and the center of revolution Within the Wall. Fig. 5, is a plan view from above of a modified means for controlling the truck. Fig. 6, is a fragmentary detail in cross section of th chafing guide and shoe.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawing includes a substantially rectangular frame composed of the side bars 1 and 52, joined by the end braces 3 and i and the center brace 5. The conical rollers 6 and 7, are journaled between the side bars 1 and truck constructed in 2, on the shafts 8 and 9 extending therethrough. The axes of these rollers converge to a point, representing the center of the are described by the truck in its travel. The radius of the arc is determined by the'taper of the rollers. The number of rollers in the truck is determined by the load to be carried and other circumstances; in some instances one roller is sufficient. The plat.- form 10 is provided Withthe longitudinal grooves 11 and 12 engaging the rollers 13-43 and 14--14 respectively.. These rollers are journaled in the truck frame on the studs 15 and support the platform above the rollers 6 and 7. The platform thus mounted is permitted longitudinal travel, tangental to the are described by the truck.

In the present instance a conventional folding bed is illustrated as attached to and supported by the truck. I do not wish,

however, to be understood as confining the normal are about the edge of the opening.

The head of the bed is secured to the platform-in any desirable manner; The platform 10, is placed on the truck with the grooves 11 and 12 engaging the rollers 13- .13 and 1l1 l as shown in Fig. 1. The

platform is secured in position by the top bearing roller 16, journaled on the stud 17, screwed into the extension 18, preferably attached to the center brace It is the function of this roller 16 to prevent the tipping forward of the platform 10, when the bed is lowered into the operative position.

As a precautionary measure the elongation 18 of the center brace 5, may be screwed at 19 to the floor on the center of revolution as indicated in Fig. 3, to prevent upsetting of the bed when it is being raised or lowered in operation. The hooks 2020 are screwed to the floor, to engage the extension 18, in the operative and inoperative position of the bed, and perform the same function as the screw 19. These hooks 20-2O are necessary, only where their functioning is involved in the proper operation of the artiole mounted upon the trucks, such as raising and lowering the bed, or operating the drawers of a bureau, or other articles that may be mounted upon the truck. To prevent lateral tipping of the ends of the platform 10, they are provided with rollers 21 and 22 journaled in the brackets 23- and 24, fixed to the underside of the platform at each end. These rollers are preferably slightly above the plane, of the floor contact of the rollers 6 and 7, to prevent dragging of the rollers 21 and 22, when the whole weight is supported by the truck in its evolution.

In Fig. 1 the bed is shown in position ready to be lowered into the operative position within the room. To pass the bed through the opening X, it is graspedat any convenient point and swung, so that the arc of travel of the truck causes the side X to enter the opening, the operation continuing until the side X approximates contact with the jam X of the opening; then the platform 10 is rolled across the truck (tangental to its travel) on the rollers 13- 13 and 14 14, until the edge X clears the jam X, and the bed assumes a position within the closet similar to that shown in. Fig. 1, that is, parallel with the wall of which the opening is a part. Particular attention is directed to the fact, that the truck and all of its associated elements are architecturally independent of the building, and in no wise dependent in their structure or operation upon the wall, the opening therethrough, thedoor, or any other architectural element; except the supporting power of the floor. To withdraw the bed from the closet, the edge X is pulled outward through the opening X until the bed is in the operative position, the truck automatically traveling in its arc of operation. As shown in Fig. l at no time is the opening X closed by the bed, except perhaps, at the instant that the side X is passing the jam X in a shallow closet; which means that the closest space is available for use, when the bed is in the operative or inoperative position, without manipulating the bed.

The modification shown in Fig. 5 includes the truck described, controlled by a chafing guide, to modify its swing about the center of rotation. It may so happen that the truck rolling over a thick carpet, or inequalities of the floor, would depart from its true are, in revolving about the center 25, which is the true center of revolution determined by the taper and set of the rollers 6 and 7. The chafin guides comprise the segments 26 and 27, fixed to the door post on opposite sides of the sliding door 28. These guides are concentric with the center 25, but the radius is greater than the radius of the chafing shoe 29 that is also struck from the center 25. The tendency of the tapered rollers to swing in an are about their true center of revolution, which is the center 25, is opposed by the circumference of the segments 26 and 27, the greater radius of which crowds the truck away from its true center; causing the truck to hug the guide closely in its arc of travel into and out of the closet. This arrangement of parts insures the proper position of the truck with relation to the door post. The overlapping flanges 30 and 31 perform the same function as the screw 19, or the books 20, see Fig. 6.

A further advantage in the use of this invention is that either swinging or sliding doors may be used in connection with the opening X, without modifying the operation of the bed; accomplishing a very desirable result. This form of bed. can be installed in any room old or new, that has a closet big enough to receive the bed, and an opening wide enough for its passage in the upended position, and high enough to receive the standard length of mattress, plus the height of the truck, that leaves plenty of heig it available in the standard door opening, and the standard length of bed.

The description of the smaller details of the construction have been omitted, as not germane to this invention, as many modifications in the structure, within the spirit of this invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in this art.

. Having thus described this invention what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is;

1. A supporting truck mounted on rollers having converging axes; and a platform mounted on said truck and having a movement traverse to said axes.

2. A supporting truck having a frame, conical rollers in said frame, the axes of said rollers converging toward a center outside of said frame.

3. A supporting truck having conical rol lers therein the axes of said rollers converging toward a common center; and a platform on said truck having a movement tangential to the normal movement of said truck. 4. A truck; a platform slidable upon said truck; conical rollers in said truck with their axes converging toward a common center whereby said platform may be caused to assume positions parallel with the opposite sides of a wall by passing through an opening therethrough.

A truck; a platform slidable upon said truck; conical rollers supporting said truck and having axes converging toward a common center; rollers interposed between said truck and said platform; a roller attached to said truck and overhanging said platform; whereby said platform on the truck is adapted to travel from a position parallel with one side of a wall, through an opening therethrough to a position parallel with the opposite side of the wall.

6. A supporting truck having a frame attached to a vertical pivot; conical rollers in said frame; the axes of said rollers converging toward said vertical pivot.

7. A supporting truck having a frame attached to a vertical pivot; conical rollers in said frame; the axes of said rollers converging toward said vertical pivot; and a platform slidable upon said frame.

8. A supporting truck having a frame at tached to a vertical pivot; conical rollers.

in said frame; the axes of said rollers converging toward said pivot; platform rollers mounted in said frame; and a platform mounted on said platform rollers, whereby said platform has a movement tangental to the are of movement of said truck.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of April, 1914:.

ELMER C. PITCHER. Witnesses:

W. W. HEALEY, BALDWIN VALE. 

